Sept. 9, 2019 HPI Daily Wire sponsored by Indiana Motor Truck Assn.

Monday, September 9, 2019 7:30 AM

BANKS SAYS IT'S TIME FOR CONGRESS TO ACT ON MASSACRES: U.S. Rep. Jim Banks told Howey Politics Indiana that American culture of mass shootings "is not the new norm, it shouldn't be the new norm" and said that it's time for Congress and President Trump to act. Asked about HPI analysis (Of cephalopods & CEOs) last Thursday, Banks said. "Our political leaders have to rise up and do something about it. I agree with your column today that’s what is not happening. Many of these incidents happened over the August recess, so we’ll go back into session next week and fully expect at some point to see the Senate take something up. I don’t expect them to take up what passed out of the House, which was a very broad background check measure, but I suspect the Senate to debate and move something that will come back to the House. I don’t know what that will be or what it will look like. The president has spoken out and will continue to speak out, but it’s unclear what he wants." HPI asked, It seems to be the president is having trouble staying on a policy course. If you’re in the Senate and House and you’re a Republican, that’s a problem. If you don’t know where he’s coming down, right? Banks responded, “Right. The president has to use the bully pulpit and talk about what we can do. That’s where I fall on this issue. As an ardent supporter of the 2nd Amendment, how do we protect 2nd Amendment rights and due process? Each one of these mass shootings have exposed areas where current law has been enforced. That is even the case in the most recent shooting in Odessa. Last year, Republicans passed the Fix NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) bill which went a long way - obviously it didn’t fix all of these situations but it went a long way to fix the background check system so that different layers of law enforcement are talking to each other through the NICS system. That was one piece of the puzzle. Now we have to do more to fix existing laws. That's clearly where it gets complicated." Read the entire HPI Interview with Rep. Banks in Thursday's weekly edition of Howey Politics Indiana.

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT IN WP/ABC POLL ON GUN REFORMS: Americans across party and demographic lines overwhelmingly support expanded background checks for gun buyers and allowing law enforcement to temporarily seize weapons from troubled individuals, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll, as President Trump and Republicans face fresh pressure to act. Although the poll finds a continued partisan divide on more far-reaching gun-control proposals, public opinion is firmly behind Democrats’ push for action as Congress returns to Washington on Monday. More Americans say they trust congressional Democrats over Trump to handle the nation’s gun laws, 51 percent to 36 percent, with independents siding with Democrats by a 17-point margin The Post-ABC poll finds 86 percent of Americans support implementing “red-flag” provisions, which allow guns to be taken from people judged to be a danger to themselves or others. And 89 percent support expanding federal background checks to cover private sales and gun-show transactions. Both measures are supported by at least 8 in 10 Republicans, white evangelical Christians, members of gun-owning households and other traditionally conservative groups. A 56 percent majority supports a new federal ban on sales of military-style assault weapons, and nearly all who support such a ban also back a mandatory federal buyback program for those weapons — a notion that has been decried as government “confiscation” by gun-right supporters and has been at the fringes of the national gun debate until recently.

EX-WHITE HOUSE COS KELLY CALLS FOR 'HONEST' DEBATE: America is in need of a return to honest discussion and debate. That’s the message John Kelly, a retired four-star general and former chief of staff to President Donald Trump, brought to the Blue Chip Casino’s Stardust Event Center as the first speaker in Purdue University Northwest’s 66th Sinai Forum (Lanich, NWI Times). Kelly — who served more than 45 years with the U.S. Marine Corps prior to his appointments as Secretary of Homeland Security and White House Chief of Staff — spoke on constitutional rights, the opioid crisis, immigration and more in a speech that drew students, veterans and even a few local officials. After serving in the Trump administration for two years, Kelly shared his take on working in the White House and alongside politicians as compared to serving in the Marines. The main difference, he said, was a ceaseless election cycle impeding progress because of an ongoing need to appeal to voters every two years. He chided politicians in White House and Congress for allowing character debates and politics to preclude forward-moving governance. “When all is said and done, there’s generally a lot more said than done,” Kelly said. “We have to talk to each other simply as Americans and in terms of what’s good for our country. We have to get back to a culture that if I disagree with you, I don’t hate you.”

CONGRESS RETURNS FOR GUN REFORMS, DEBT CEILING, IMPEACHMENT: The House and Senate come back into session today after six weeks of "district work." There are 21 days until the government shuts down (Politico Playbook). Fewer than four months until the end of 2019 -- which means there are fewer than four months until a presidential election year. Not much time to get anything done. So we spoke to our sources in the congressional leadership to lay out the dynamics each leader faces this fall and beyond. The obvious big question facing Speaker Pelosi is simple: How does she handle what's quickly turning into a process that could lead to impeaching President Donald Trump? More than half of the Democratic Caucus wants to begin proceedings to remove the president. The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Jerry Nadler of New York, seems ready to scream from the rooftops that he's ready to dump Trump -- and his colleagues sense it. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been stunningly consistent: He is not going to move unless the president gives him something to move on. McConnell isn't foreclosing the possibility of gun legislation, but notes he's going to take the president's lead. Pelosi and Schumer are pressing Trump to urge the Senate to take up a House-passed background bill. It won't happen, of course, since Senate Republicans have said the House's bill goes too far.

TERRE HAUTE TURNING TO TINY HOMES: Helping homeless, often mentally ill, find housing is difficult, especially for those who fall in the middle of federal vulnerability charts used to determine facilities for placement (Greninger, Terre Haute Tribune-Star). One solution is tiny homes, and its full speed ahead for such a project after approval this week by Terre Haute officials including the City Council. The philosophy of the Mental Health America of West Central Indiana Inc. is that, “as a human being, you have a right to housing,” said Myra Wilkey, executive director. “People need to be housed somewhere.” And as a result of a partnership between Mental Health America and Indiana State University, a dozen “tiny homes” are coming to Terre Haute. They’ll be designed and built by ISU construction technology students. “ISU is taking on this project. Their construction and design students had a competition in the spring and this fall they are implementing this into their curriculum and students will build a house from the ground up, something they have not had experience doing,” Wilkey said.

SANFORD SAYS GOP HAS 'LOST ITS WAY': Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on Sunday announced he will challenge Donald Trump for the Republican Party’s 2020 presidential nomination becoming the third member of his party to do so (Politico). Sanford told “Fox News Sunday” he believes the GOP needs to have a conversation about what it means to be a Republican, adding, “We have lost our way.” The former governor, who was also a congressman from 1995 to 2001 and 2013 to 2019, highlighted a need to discuss the country’s ballooning debt and deficits, as well as Trump’s turn toward trade protectionism. “One of the hallmarks of the Republican Party and the conservative movement has always been: How much do we spend?” Sanford said, offering a nod to the famed University of Chicago economist Milton Friedman. The candidate also said he wants to shine a light on how “institutions and political culture are being damaged by this president.”

JP MORGAN TRACKING TRUMP TWEETS: JPMorgan Chase analysts have created an index to gauge the impact of President Trump's tweets on interest rates, Bloomberg's Tracy Alloway reports. The 'Volfefe Index,' named after Trump’s mysterious 'covfefe' tweet, suggests that the president's tweets are having a statistically significant impact on Treasury yields. The number of market-moving Trump tweets has ballooned in the past month, with ... words such as 'China,' 'billion,' 'products,' 'Democrats' and 'great' most likely to affect prices."

PUTIN TAKES STUNNING HIT IN MOSCOW ELECTION: Vladimir Putin’s ruling party had its majority in Moscow’s city legislature slashed by nearly half in an election shock that came after a summer of protests over the barring of some of the Kremlin’s fiercest critics from the ballot (Politico). United Russia’s candidates won 25 of the City Duma’s 45 seats, down 15 from the 40 the party previously held. The Communist Party claimed 13 seats, while the center-left A Just Russia party took three seats. Although both parties are nominally in opposition to United Russia, analysts say they are controlled by the Kremlin to varying degrees.

LEGALIZED MARIJUANA SEEN AS LIKELY IN KENTUCKY: Democratic state Rep. Nima Kulkarni said most Kentuckians support marijuana legalization and expects the Bluegrass state to eventually legalize the substance (Politico Cannabis). While the state is home to a flourishing hemp program, it has yet to change its marijuana laws. But medical marijuana legalization bill HB 136 racked up 52 co-sponsors in the last legislative session and advanced in committee — a first for any sort of medical marijuana legislation in the state.

HPI DAILY ANALYSIS: The Colts lost in overtime to the LA Chargers on Sunday, but there are an array of silver linings that portend to a playoff season and beyond. Any Colt victory in LA would have been an upset and they came extremely close. QB Jacoby Brissett and RB Marlon Mack both played exceptionally well. The problem was with future Hall of Fame kicker Adam Vinatieri, who botched seven points on two field goals and a PAT. Had he made any of those kicks, the Colts would have won. We have a fascinating season underway. - Brian A. Howey

Campaigns

MITCHELL TO RUN IN 5TH CD: About a week after filing her candidacy, state Treasurer Kelly Mitchell formally announced she will seek the Republican nomination for the 5th Congressional District (Kelly & Francisco, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). Mitchell becomes the seventh person – three Republicans and four Democrats – to launch a campaign to replace four-term Rep. Susan Brooks, a Fort Wayne native. Brooks is not seeking re-election in 2020. The 5th District includes Hamilton, Madison, Grant, Tipton and parts of four other counties. The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball list the district as leaning Republican, while Nate Gonzales' Inside Elections rates it as likely Republican. Mitchell said in a campaign video released Wednesday that the American Dream “is under constant attack from the radical left.” She said her beliefs include: “Secure the border and do it now! Don't blink when it comes to China or Russia. Defend the unborn. Protect the Second Amendment. Respect the flag and show gratitude to those who have defended it.”

Presidential 2020

THIRD DEMOCRAT DEBATE THURSDAY: ABC hosts the third Democratic debate in Houston on Thursday. The Sept. 12 showdown at Texas Southern University will run from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and will have half as many candidates as the previous two presidential debates.

WARREN GAINS IN CBS DELEGATE TRACKER: This poll tells a story of Elizabeth Warren rising. But not Joe Biden falling. The former vice president now clings to a narrow lead over Warren in our CBS News/YouGov Tracker estimate of convention delegates — the only count that ultimately matters — with an estimated 600 delegates of all delegates available through Super Tuesday, to Warren's 545. Warren has gained delegate share as supporters of other, lower-tier candidates have been switching their preferences toward her. Bernie Sanders rounds out the top tier of candidates with 286 delegates in a race that has tightened substantially over the summer. The tracker shows no delegates for South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. In New Hampsire, the tracker shows Warren leading with 27%, Biden with 26%, Sanders with 25, Buttigieg with 8% and Kamala Harris with 7%. In Iowa, Biden leads with 29%, Sanders with 26%, Warren with 17%, Buttigieg with 7% and Harris with 6%. In South Carolina, Biden leads with 43%, Sanders with 18%, Warren with 14%, Harris with 7% and Buttigieg with 4%.

WARREN SAYS SHE KNOWS HOW TO FIGHT: Elizabeth Warren said she beat the odds years ago in her race for the Senate — and she could do the same thing in her campaign for president. The Massachusetts senator spoke with CBS News' Caitlin Huey-Burns a day before a new CBS News Battleground Tracker poll showed a surge in Warren's popularity, with more voters believing she could defeat President Trump. Warren sat down with Huey-Burns in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Saturday. Huey-Burns asked Warren what she says to people who may be inclined to support her, but aren't sure if she can defeat Mr. Trump. "Look, I know how to fight and I know how to win. I've been around this block before," Warren said.

Sunday Talk

MATTIS SUPPORTS TALKS WITH TALIBAN: Former Defense Secretary James Mattis said on CBS Face The Nation he supports efforts by the Trump administration to secure a diplomatic end to the 18-year conflict with Taliban militants in Afghanistan, but cautioned against a peace agreement that doesn't prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups determined to harm the U.S. "I think you want to verify then trust. We've asked them, demanded that they break with al Qaeda since the Bush administration. They've refused to do so," Mattis said on "Face the Nation" Sunday, referring to the Taliban, which has mounted an insurgency in Afghanistan since it was ousted from power in 2001 by a U.S.-led coalition.

BLUNT SAYS TRUMP NEEDS TO WEIGH IN ON GUN REFORM: Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said on Sunday that President Trump needs to let lawmakers know what gun reform measures he would sign before Republicans call bills for votes. "The president needs to step up here and set some guidelines on what he will do," Blunt said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "Schumer has an 'everything or nothing' mentality on gun legislation," Blunt added, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). "Well, call his bluff," NBC host Chuck Todd said. "If the president would let us know what he'd sign if it got on his desk, we'd be much more likely to do that," Blunt responded.

COONS WORKING WITH GOP ON GUN REFORMS: Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said Sunday that he is working with Republican Sen. Pat Toomey (Pa.) and the White House on a piece of gun legislation following a series of mass shootings last month. Coons said on CBS's "Face the Nation" that the proposed law would notify state law enforcement when someone fails a background check to purchase a gun. "Senator Pat Toomey and I....we've been working hard on our bipartisan bill, the NICS Denial Notification Act," he said. "The Odessa shooter failed a background check. Our bill would make sure that state law enforcement is promptly notified when someone fails a background check," he added.

POMPEO SAYS AFGAHN TALKS 'DEAD FOR TIME BEING': Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that peace talks with the Taliban are dead "for the time being," after President Trump announced that he had cancelled talks with the insurgent group and Afghan government. Asked by "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace whether the talks were "dead," Pompeo replied, "For the time being they are."

CASTRO SEES 'ANOTHER BIZARRE EPISODE' WITH TRUMP: Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro criticized President Trump's tactics in trying to negotiate peace between the Taliban and Afghan leaders through a planned, and then canceled, secret meeting at Camp David. "This is the worst president when it comes to negotiating, I think, that we've had in a very long time," Castro said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." "It's another bizarre episode. It's more of this erratic behavior that people are tired of," Castro added.

PEREZ SAYS DEM CANDIDATES MUST SHOW 'PROGRESS' IN POLLS: Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez said Sunday that the criteria to qualify for the party's next presidential primary debate "quite frankly, is a very reasonable bar." "It's going to be up to the voters to decide who this candidate is and I think our process has been the most fair, transparent and inclusive process the history of the Democratic primary," Perez said on ABC's "This Week." "Our field is deep, but we're reaching a point now when voters are differentiating, and that's what it's about, and candidates have to demonstrate progress as we get closer to Iowa and New Hampshire," he added.

Congress

PREVIEWING AGENDA: The House and Senate are back from August recess this week. Here are the 5 big items that will shape the fall on the Hill (Axios): Guns: Few in the White House want Trump to pursue gun legislation, and internal polling conducted by some of his aides shows that any measure would play poorly with Trump's base, the New York Times first reported and I have confirmed. "Red flag" laws: There is still a shot that Trump backs a smaller measure like red flag laws to "save face," as one administration official described it. But White House and Hill officials involved in the talks tell me not to expect any meaningful legislation to pass. Budget: With the $2.7 trillion bipartisan budget deal signed into law, the Senate will begin processing appropriations bills shortly, per a GOP leadership aide. Congress is expected to pass a smaller spending bill by the end of September to fund some agencies and tie the rest into a continuing resolution that buys Congress more time to negotiate. USMCA: Right now the ball is in Pelosi's court. After weeks of negotiations between her and U.S. trade representative Bob Lighthizer, Pelosi still has concerns about enforcement mechanisms. Officials involved in the negotiations say not to expect any real movement on this until after September. Drug pricing: See 1 big thing above. Meanwhile, McConnell has made it abundantly clear over the last several weeks that he does not plan to bring any bills to the floor that don't have a chance of becoming law. The Senate majority leader's main focus this month will be on confirming Trump's judicial and executive branch nominees, per a Republican leadership aide.

HOUSE SCHEDULE: The House Judiciary Committee will mark up a series of bills this week aimed at curbing gun violence, per a senior Democratic aide (Axios). They include legislation that would ban high capacity ammunition magazines and prohibit those convicted of misdemeanor hate crimes from possessing firearms, among other bills. See the full summary of the measures here. Monday: House and Senate Democrats will demand the Senate hold a vote on the House-passed, bipartisan Background Checks Act. Wednesday: House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler is expected to schedule a vote to authorize ground rules for launching impeachment proceedings against Trump, committee aides tell me. The House Oversight Committee will also hold a hearing on the Trump administration's apparent revocation of medical deferred action for critically ill migrant children. The House's Gun Violence Prevention task force will hold a forum Wednesday pressuring the Senate to take up the House-passed gun bills.

SENATE SCHEDULE: The Senate will have a cloture vote on Kelly Craft for U.S. ambassador to the UN on Monday, per a Republican leadership aide (Axios).

State

GOVERNOR: HOLCOMB MEETS WITH JAPANESE BUSINESS FEDERATION - Gov. Eric Holcomb met with the Japanese Business Federation during his trade trip on Sunday (Howey Politics Indiana). Holcomb tweeted: "#INAsia @keidanren, the Japanese Business Federation, is the country’s largest business lobby and actively works toward creating a strong US-Japan relationship."

IURC: DUKE, IPL SEEK RATE INCREASES - The two electric companies that serve the majority of customers in and around Indianapolis hope to raise their rates, and both have public hearings this week (WRTV). Duke Energy and Indianapolis Power and Light customers are both facing the prospect of higher bills, but how much more hasn't been decided. The decisions will be made by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission after a series of public hearings. Here's a look at what each company is asking for and when the hearings are. Duke Energy: The utility serves much of the area outside Indianapolis, including Hamilton County. Duke has a proposal before the regulatory commission to raise its rates by 15.5%, phased in over 2020 and 2021.Duke hearings: Duke has three public hearings. Each begins at 6 p.m. Here are the dates and sites: Sept. 9, Carmel: Carmel High School Auditorium, 520 East Main Street. Sept.. 23, Terre Haute: Terre Haute South High School Auditorium, 3737 South 7th Street Oct. 1, New Albany: New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation Facilities Center, 2801 Grant Line Road IPL: Indianapolis Power and Light is asking for a series of rate hikes spread out of seven-years. Under the proposal, customer bills would increase between 0.8% and 1.3% between 2020 and 2026. IPL hearings: This week's hearing begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 10, Indianapolis. University of Indianapolis, Schwitzer Student Center, 1400 East Hanna Avenue.

DNR: WILL PAY FOR SELECT SEEDS - With fall approaching, Indiana forestry officials are reminding Hoosiers that they’ll pay them for seeds from certain tree species (AP). The Department of Natural Resources says its Division of Forestry orchestrates a statewide seed collection annually with the goal of diversifying their seed source. That diversification allows the agency to raise seedlings well adapted to grow into mature trees across Indiana. The DNR pays seed collectors on the basis of “pure live seed” that meet DNR specifications, including being free of diseases and insects. Some of the numerous tree species the DNR wants seeds for are black walnut, red oak, bur oak and shellbark hickory. The prices the agency will pay for qualifying seeds include 1 cent for each black walnut seed and 3 cents for each shagbark hickory seed. For more information on the tree seed purchases, contact the Vallonia Nursery at 812-358-3621 or vallonianursery@dnr.IN.gov

ENERGY: WIND FARMS GROWING - Indiana has experienced a surge in wind farm construction during the past decade that’s given the state the nation’s 12th-highest number of wind turbines (AP). But some renewable energy advocates say Indiana risks being outpaced by other states unless it does more to encourage commercial wind power, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported. Since 2008, developers have installed more than 1,000 wind turbines across Indiana, primarily on 16 large wind farms that produce 2,317 megawatts of electricity — enough to power more than 1 million homes. Another 1,130 megawatts of new wind capacity are under construction or in advanced development across the state, from modest projects to major wind farms.

SPORTS: HARVICK WINS BRICKYARD 400 - Kevin Harvick won his first Brickyard 400 since 2003, but Jimmie Johnson came up short in his quest to remain the only driver to make every NASCAR playoff since the format was adopted in 2004.

Nation

WHITE HOUSE: TRADE DEFICITS GROWING UNDER TRUMP - President Trump's trade war has led to even bigger trade deficits with China, even though it was intended to improve the trade balance. But it's not just China — the deficit has increased with most of our other major trade partners, too (Axios). While economists agree that trade deficits aren't a good way to measure a trade relationship, they are the metric Trump fixates on, made campaign promises about and uses to evaluate relationships with other countries.

WHITE HOUSE: TALIBAN PROMISES MORE AMERICAN DEATHS - President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel Afghan peace talks will cost more American lives, the Taliban said on Sunday while the United States promised to keep up military pressure on the militants, in a stunning reversal of efforts to forge a deal ending nearly 20 years of war in Afghanistan (Politico). The Islamist group issued a statement after Trump unexpectedly canceled secret talks planned for Sunday with the Taliban’s major leaders at the presidential compound in Camp David, Maryland. He broke off the talks on Saturday after the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack in Kabul last week that killed an American soldier and 11 others.

WHITE HOUSE: TRUMP/PENCE SCHEDULE –Today: President Trump will participate in the presentation of the Medal of Valor and Heroic Commendations. He'll then fly to Fayetteville, North Carolina, for a political rally. Tuesday: Trump has lunch with Vice President Pence. He'll also deliver remarks at the 2019 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week Conference and participate in the swearing in ceremony for Kelly Craft. Wednesday: Trump will participate in a moment of silence in remembrance of Sept. 11. He will also participate in the Pentagon Observance Ceremony. Thursday: Trump has lunch with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Later, he will deliver remarks at the 2019 House Republican Conference Member Retreat Dinner in Baltimore.

PENTAGON: AIR FORCE ORDERS PROBE ON TRUMP PROPERTIES - The U.S. Air Force has ordered a world-wide review of how it chooses overnight accommodations on long flights following revelations that air crews had occasionally stayed at President Donald Trump's Scotland resort while refueling at a small commercial airport nearby (Politico). The review comes as additional instances of military personnel staying at Trump properties have been uncovered. The C-17 crew's overnight stay at Trump's Turnberry resort in Scotland earlier this year, first reported by POLITICO on Friday, was not an isolated incident.

RELIGION: FALWELL UNDER SCRUITY AT LIBERTY U - At Liberty University, all anyone can talk about is Jerry Falwell Jr. Just not in public. “When he does stupid stuff, people will mention it to others they consider confidants and not keep it totally secret,” a trusted adviser to Falwell, the school’s president and chancellor, told me. “But they won’t rat him out” (Politico). That’s beginning to change. Over the past year, Falwell, a prominent evangelical leader and supporter of President Donald Trump, has come under increasing scrutiny. News outlets have reported on business deals by Liberty University benefiting Falwell’s friends. Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen claimed that he had helped Falwell clean up racy “personal” photographs. Based on scores of new interviews and documents obtained for this article, concerns about Falwell’s behavior go well beyond that—and it’s causing longtime, loyal Liberty University officials to rapidly lose faith in him.

World

IAEA FINDS URANIUM TRACES AT IRAN WAREHOUSE: Samples taken by the U.N. nuclear watchdog at what Israel’s prime minister called a “secret atomic warehouse” in Tehran showed traces of uranium that Iran has yet to explain, two diplomats who follow the agency’s inspections work closely say (Reuters). The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is investigating the particles’ origin and has asked Iran to explain the traces. But Tehran has not done so, according to the diplomats, stoking tensions between Washington and Tehran. U.S. sanctions have slashed Iranian oil sales and Iran has responded by breaching its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Local

CITIES: PLYMOUTH WOMAN TURNS NEWSPAPER BOXES INTO FOOD PANTRIES - After moving back to Plymouth last summer, Rebecca Palmer decided to spearhead a food pantry service to help struggling members of her community — one that would have benefited her years ago as a single mother of five children (Zacharias, South Bend Tribune). Palmer created Caring Cupboards, a collection of six small, emergency food and household item pantries to be placed around Plymouth that will be open to anyone who needs the assistance. The cupboards, which are re-purposed newspaper vending machines, will be stocked by Palmer and community members willing to donate food, cleaning supplies and pet items. “I know that feeling with having five kids, child support was always behind, and there was a couple of nights I had to borrow money from my neighbor because my check was still a few days away and the food pantries were closed at that time,” Palmer said. “If you’re working two jobs, you might not be able to go when the food pantries are open.”

CITIES: ANTI-RACISM MARCH IN BLOOMINGTON - About 100 people marched through downtown Bloomington at sunset Saturday night to protest white supremacy (Indiana Public Media). The event was sponsored by the Bloomington chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America, an “anti-capitalist organization.” YDSA leader Jess Tang spoke to the crowd that gathered at People’s Park before the march about a recent spate of deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Tang listed the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office’s policy of reporting crimes to ICE as a reason for the march.

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"I promised President Trump tonight that Indiana would be the first state on the board for Trump/Pence shortly after 6pm on November 3, 2020!" - U.S. Rep. Jim Banks in a Facebook posting after House Republicans met with President Trump for their retreat in Baltimore. Indiana's polls are one of the first to close on Election Day and the state typically is one of the first to declare its 11 Electoral College votes for the Republican nominee, with the exception of 2008 when Barack Obama won the state.

The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers kicked off the 100th season of the NFL Thursday nigth, meeting for the 199th time. The Bear defense lived up to billing. But Chicago third year QB Mitch Trubinsky ... not so much, as the Packers won 10-3, much to the howling, growling chagrin to the Bear faithful at Soldier Field. This, despite a pre-game appearance by the Punky QB (Jim McMahon).

There were 10 original teams of the NFL, including two in Indiana: The Hammond Pros and the Muncie Flyers. The others were Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Tigers, Dayton Triangles, Decatur Staleys, Racine Cardinals, Rock Island Independents, and Rochester Jeffersons. The Staleys would become the Bears.

The NFL wouldn't return to Indiana (beyond the Bears training camp at St. Joseph College at Rensselaer where Dick Butkus once said the statues were so ugly the pigeons wouldn't crap on them) until the Colts arrived in Indianapolis in 1984. It took 15 years before consistently great quarterbacking would establish itself in Indy, first with Peyton Manning and then Andrew Luck. Jacoby Brissett is now on the clock. - Brian A. Howey, publisher